The Cranbrook Pride Society is celebrating its 20th anniversary and bringing spirited festivities to town, June 6 to 12.
The non-profit is kicking off Pride Month with a variety of activities to help bring joy and self-expression to the community.
"Show your pride, show your colours. Have fun and dress up in an outfit that you don't normally get to wear," said organizer Elora McCormack. "These events are not just for queer people. These events are for everybody, anybody who is supportive or just wants to check it out."
The weekend begins with Queerioke on Friday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. at the Eagles Hall. Drag queen April Storm is MCing this 19+ event, lighting up the stage with warm vibrant energy.
Rotary Park is host to a variety of outdoor activities on Saturday, June 7. Highlights include a dog costume show and a panel discussion with local 2SLGBTQ+ speakers.
Attendees can dress their friendly pups in pride gear and bring them to the park, and the Fan Favourite will win a gift basket.
The panel brings together a handful of 2SLGBTQ+ people, who will share their experiences about coming out, dealing with discrimination, navigating challenges with identity and positive experiences of self-acceptance. There will be opportunities for the audience to ask questions.
McCormack will be speaking, alongside Shaun Longstreet and Hunter Rhodes.
McCormack said the panel will help shed light on what it's like to be a 2SLGBTQ+ person living in a non-urban area.
"Our community is a little bit smaller and a less connected. We don't have as many resources for queer youth and even queer adults," she said "... In a smaller community people just don't really know us as well."
"Younger people might not be totally ready to come out," she added. "Myself, I took a really long time to confront those emotions, so having people who you can relate to is definitely very important, to hear their stories and maybe see yourself reflected in them."
The Tounge In Cheeks drag show is the main attraction on Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m. April Storm, Nada Nuff, Farrah Nuff, The Marvellous Mo and Glitter Beast will perform a dazzling routine. Attendees may recognize Glitter Beast "The Kootenay Cryptid" as one of the performers from the drag shows at Encore Brewing Company and The Fire Hall last fall.
The drag show takes place at the Eagles Hall and is a 19+ event.
On Thursday, June 12 Key City Theatre is showing Pride vs Prejudice: Delwin Vriend Story at 6 p.m., a documentary that follows the story of a landmark legal case that reshaped 2SLGBTQ+ rights in Canada. Vriend is a Canadian man who was fired from a Christian college because of his gay identity and launched a civil case Vriend v. Alberta to fight for his rights. A Canadian Supreme Court ruling in 1998 ultimately sided with Vriend and determined that provincial governments could not exclude protection of 2SLGBTQ+ people from human rights legislation.
For more information on events, visit www.cranbrookpride.ca or visit their Facebook page.
